How do substances like CO 2 and water move in and out of the cell? Discuss.
Answer:
Cells have a semi-permeable membrane (cell membrane) as the outer covering.
- Substances inside the cell and those in the surroundings can move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration .
CO 2 as well as water follow this principle.
- If an animal or plant cell is put in water, water will move across the walls of the cell.
- If the water content is higher outside the cell than inside it , water will move into the cell, thus causing it to swell up.
- If the water content is higher inside the cell than outside it , water will move from the cell into the surrounding, thus causing it to shrivel up.
- Similarly, CO 2 can also move in and ou t of a cell.
- The process by which it happens is called diffusion .
